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Monroeville graduate named Rhodes Scholar

Adam Mastroianni, of Monroeville, is among 32 college students nationwide who won a prestigious Rhodes scholarship, announced Sunday. He will enter England’s Oxford University next October.

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Nov 25, 2013

Mastroianni and Courtney Wittekind, of Mason, Ohio, learned Saturday they’d won after final interviews took place in Indianapolis.

Mastroianni said he had to double-check that he had just heard his name.

“They had us sweating in this conference room, all 12 participants together for two and a half hours,” he said. “Then the committee walks through the door ... and the chair said my name and Courtney’s name, and the air came out of the room.”

Mastroianni, 22, is a senior studying social psychology at Princeton University in New Jersey. He said he wants to use his time at Oxford to study evidence-based social intervention, analyzing whether certain wellintended efforts actually have a positive change.

Mastroianni wants in particular to increase high school students’ college preparation — a goal he said was inspired in part by the limited opportunities in his small hometown.

Mastroianni graduated from Monroeville High School. His mother is a school superintendent, and his father is a rural mail carrier.

“I slept worse last night than I did the night before my interview because now I’ve got to figure out all these logistics,” he said with a laugh. “It’s all the little details. Where do I get my sheets?”

Wittekind wants to study anthropology at Oxford, focusing on conflict resolution, political transition and how that plays into displacement in Myanmar. She and Mastroianni were selected from 857 applicants endorsed by 327 colleges and universities.

Rhodes scholarships provide all expenses for two or three years of study at Oxford. The value of the scholarships averages about $50,000 a year.

Comments

Ehovemom

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 5:20pm

What an amazing young man!

Most Wanted

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 6:04pm

Congratulations Sir!

KURTje

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 6:14pm

Great for you Adam! Best wishes for you in the future.

Sandusksquach

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 6:47pm

Mastroianni to Monroeville: "Your lameness made me the super-genius I am today".

If he had grown up in someplace more happening like Milan he'd probably just be a dental hygienist.

Curtis

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 6:58pm

Congratulations young man. You and your family should be very proud!

AJ Oliver

Tue, 11/26/2013 - 10:34am

I like his research, and hope it tells us more about how to get kids into college. Ohio's % of folks with a bachelors degree is pretty low, which accounts for a lot of our backwardness. On the other hand, we need skilled tradespeople too - but they also would benefit from studying more math, history, psych., etc. Hats off to Adam & Courtney !!